Malloy opposed to border tolls

Updated 11:12 pm, Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Photo: Michael Duffy

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Kevin Kelleher, president and CEO of Cartus, left, and Joe Walkovich, a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce member, greet Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, right, who was the keynote speaker at a chamber breakfast held at Cartus Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2012. less

Kevin Kelleher, president and CEO of Cartus, left, and Joe Walkovich, a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce member, greet Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, right, who was the keynote speaker at a chamber ... more

Photo: Michael Duffy

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Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, left, who was keynote speaker at a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at Cartus, confers with Kevin Kelleher, president and CEO of Cartus, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2012. less

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, left, who was keynote speaker at a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at Cartus, confers with Kevin Kelleher, president and CEO of Cartus, Tuesday, Jan. 8, ... more

Kevin Kelleher, president and CEO of Cartus, right, and Joe Walkovich, a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce member, left, greet Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, center, who was the keynote speaker at a chamber breakfast held at Cartus Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2012. less

Kevin Kelleher, president and CEO of Cartus, right, and Joe Walkovich, a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce member, left, greet Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, center, who was the keynote speaker at a ... more

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was the keynote speaker at a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at Cartus, is greeted by Dianne Yamin, chairman of the chamber's board of directors Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2012. less

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who was the keynote speaker at a Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at Cartus, is greeted by Dianne Yamin, chairman of the chamber's board of directors ... more

While some have supported border tolls in the past, area business leaders and officials have rallied against the idea, citing the significant impact tolls would have on western Connecticut.

Malloy said most supporters of border tolls "don't live near the borders."

Chamber President Steve Bull, when asking Malloy about his position on tolls, said Danbury sends more sales revenue to Hartford than any other community in the state -- about $3.1 billion in 2007, according to the state Department of Revenue Services.

"We were very encouraged to hear the governor's position on border tolls," said Maura Ruby, senior property manager for the Danbury Fair mall. "Border tolls are a significant concern for not only the mall, but for all the retail and restaurants in this market. A large portion of our customers come from border communities."

Mall officials have said in the past that about 40 percent of their customers come from New York.

State Rep. David Scribner, R-Brookfield, a longtime opponent of border tolls, said he was excited the governor is against them, and he hopes to meet with Malloy soon about his opposition.

"I embrace and welcome his sentiment," Scribner said. "I'm sure a lot of people in the audience did as well."

Scribner said, "Every year, some form of a toll proposal comes forward" and, he said, at least one lawmaker, from the New Haven area, was already preparing a toll proposal for the legislative session that starts Wednesday.

"Tolls are not the panacea some would claim them to be," Scribner said. "The truth is, Fairfield County is the economic engine for the state and produces as much revenue for Hartford as the rest of the state combined. We have to be very careful before we threaten revenue sources the state relies upon."

Besides tolls, Malloy also took questions at Tuesday's meeting about early childhood education and proposed developments to the state's natural gas infrastructure.

Malloy said about 30 percent of the state has access to natural gas, while other states like New Jersey have a penetration rate of more than 70 percent.

He said getting natural gas supplies to manufacturers in the state would allow companies to be more competitive with other areas as the cheaper fuel is plentiful.

Malloy also said that early childhood education initiatives are essential to creating a successful education system and economy in the state in the long term.

"Early childhood education is the best investment we can make in education in this state," he said.